Chargers vs Broncos: Preview, score prediction and more

Los Angeles Chargers vs. Denver Broncos

The Los Angeles Chargers and Denver Broncos have the chance to close out the first week of NFL football with style, as they are the late game on ESPN’s Monday Night Football. As you already may know, the Chargers will be playing their first regular season game as a representative of the Los Angeles-area and the Broncos are looking to get back to Super Bowl form.

Even if you’re not a fan of either one of these team’s there are so many Fantasy Football implications on the line. Will Melvin Gordon earn you the first victory of 2017? Can Keenan Allen return to form after two-straight seasons of injuries? Is Hunter Henry fool’s gold?

That being said, expectations and tensions will be high for this AFC West showdown on Monday night. Take a look at each team’s keys to victory.

Chargers Keys to Victory

Get the Running Game Going Early: For most teams in the NFL, running the football isn’t always the first thing they want to do, especially if they have talented receivers on the outside. That being said, it’s crucial that Los Angeles gets Melvin Gordon going early in this contest against Denver. The Broncos have one of the best front-sevens in all of football, which is why dominating the line of scrimmage and keeping that defense on the field will be key for Los Angeles on Monday night.

Get Pressure on Trevor Siemian: Let’s be honest here, Trevor Siemian isn’t the best quarterback in the NFL, but he can make life miserable for the Chargers if he has time to throw the football on Monday. The good news for Los Angeles fans is that they have become one of the best pass-rushing teams in the league. If Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram can get through to Siemian early in the game, it will set the tone for what Denver has to do offensively for the rest of the night.

Broncos Keys to Victory

Force Los Angeles to Become One-Dimensional. Denver probably has the best defense in the entire NFL. That being said, they can dominate the Chargers in Week 1 if they can shut down Melvin Gordon from the start. The very last thing Los Angeles wants to happen is for Rivers to throw 40 or more passes this weekend. If that indeed happens, Von Miller and company may come away with three or more sacks, plus a win at home to start 2017.

Force Chargers Turnovers. If there’s one thing that can keep this Chargers football team from overachieving in 2017, its turnovers. While Rivers has struggled with interceptions over the course of his career, he has played even worse against the guys in navy and orange. If the Broncos end up winning the turnover battle on Monday night, they’ll come away with a victory.

Odds

Point Spread: Denver -3.5
Moneyline: Denver +102, Los Angeles -113
Over/Under: 49.5

via Sportsbookreview.com

Next: NFL 2017: 20 Bold predictions for Week 1

Prediction

I, for one, am pumped that the Chargers and Broncos are on Monday Night Football in Week 1. These two division rivals have been playing some close football games as of late and now it looks as though Los Angeles is finally closing the talent-gap. That being said, the I believe that the Bolts will sneak out of Denver with a victory on Monday night.

How are they going to score that 21st point you may ask? Well, it’ll be on the foot of the guy with coolest name in football — rookie kicker, Younghoe Koo.

Pick: Los Angeles Chargers: 21, Denver Broncos: 18

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Chargers vs Broncos: Preview, score prediction for Week 1

By Derek Snyder | Sep 8, 2017